Second placing speaks volumes

Second placing in their section at the Palmfields netball championships held in Palmerston North spoke volumes for the Body Fuel Wairarapa year 7 side.
Up against opposition from all over the lower North Island they clearly demonstrated the value of good teamwork and a competitive attitude.
Coach Kim Whiteman was particularly pleased with the quality of defensive play right through the court and the determination of each player to enhance their skills against the best many bigger centres could offer.
Cool, damp conditions greeted the team when they arrived in Palmerston North and, unfortunately, they did not improve over the duration of the event.
Pool play saw Wairarapa beat hosts Manawatu Green 9-4, Rangitikei 14-4, Taranaki development 19-16 and lose to Kapiti 6-8. They then progressed to the semi-finals where they beat Napier 11-5 and onto the final where they lost 7-12 to Taranaki.
Not even the effects of 'flu stopped Kahu Brown and Claudia Matapuku from consistently strong efforts in the defence circle where, along with Kavarne Nicho and Cheryl Phillips at wing defence, they picked up many valuable intercepts.
The midcourt combination of Jahmin Te Karu and Angelina Kitiseni created good angles when linking with their shooters, a department in which Brooke Sim was the standout. Charlotte Pope also made steady improvement despite battling an ankle injury.
The Body Fuel Wairarapa year 8 side also contested the Palmfields tourney and they placed ninth in their section, also pleasing their coach Trudy Hullena with their progress.
Debutante Cara Butcher impressed with her high workrate and ability to absorb information given her while Anna Garnett and Emma Stiven built up an impressive understanding at the attacking end of the court.
Talia Hellena used her height to advantage in the shooting circle and formed a successful partnership there with Katarina Matapuku.
Tessa Johnson was jointly named most improved player of the tourney and never allowed herself to be dominated by taller players on defence and Evie Langlands would easily have picked up more intercepts than any other player in her section.
The tirelessness of Sam McQuade at wing defence was always a bonus when she was on court and Katarina Matapuku showed her considerable potential by often "ruling" the attacking end of the court.
The other joint winner of the most improved player award was Tyler Palmer who never stopped trying while captain Bailey Peterson led by example with her accurate feeding skills and organisation.
Shontae Reeves is a tall, rangy player who played equally well on defence and Amy Young utilised her speed well in an attacking sense.
Both the year seven and year eight teams are now focusing on their final tournament for the 2007 season, the Tararua Roading championships, to be held at Pahiatua on July 22.